Flying-machine



M. T. KION.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-23, 1920'. 1 75g98, Patented Apn'19, 1921 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

i 151E INIfENTOR.

[ya x K'Zom g i, flaw- A TTORNEY.

M. T. KION.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 23. 1920.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

i i v INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

SEFATES' earner steel FLYING-MACHINE.

v Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 19211.

Application filed March 23, 1920. :Serial No. 368,009.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX '1. KioN, a citizen of the Republic of Germany, residing at llfashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines, having more particular reference to a flying machine adapted to be raised and sustained in the air without the use of large sustain-- ing surfaces or planes and capable of rising or descending vertically sothat itmay rise from or alight upon smaller confined spaces such as yards, roof tops or the like.

The invention has for a general" object to provide a flying machine as above set forth, and one provided also with novel control means and with a novel disposition and arrangement of rotary lifting and directing members.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Figure 1 of the'drawings is a plan View of a flying machine constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view thereof.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 83 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4': is a front view thereof.

As here shown my improved flying machine comprises an elongated hollow body or housing comprising the fioor 10, vertical parallel side walls 11, flat roof 12 and a transverse rear wall '13. The side walls 11 converge inwardly at their forward ends stream line curves as at 14 to the median or center line of the machine, the wedge-like advancing edge thus formed being convexly curved in a vertical direction as shown at 15. This housing is supported, when the machine is on the ground, by means of front and rear pairs of wheels, 16' and 17 respectively, mounted on axles 18 carried in lrackets 19 secured to the underside of the i 001.

The various lifting and propelling devices of the machine are preferably driven by means of a gasolene motor 20 which I prefer to locate on the floor 10 approximately cen tralFfTif the housing, the gasolene supply tank being indicated at 21 a short distance in front of the motor. It is to be understood of course that I do not limit myself to the use of any particular type of motor as any suitable Inotormay be employed.

Extending vertically upward from the motor 20 is a' main drive, or distributing shaft 22 which may be suitably journaled at its upper end in the roof 12, this shaft having fixed thereon adjacent the lower end thereof a gear 28 meshing with a similar gear 27. For moving the machine forwardly in a horizontal direction I provide apropeller 25' of the type usually employed in aeroplanes which is disposed in front of the housing, being mounted on the projecting forward end of a longitudinally extending shaft 26 having a bevel gear 27 fixed on its rear end which meshes with a like gear 28 fixed on the main shaft 22, the shaft 26 being supported at opposite ends in suitable bearing brackets 29 and 30. I

My improved lifting and sustaining devices which I provide in place of the usual fixed planes to enable the aeroplane to rise or descend vertically, or at steep angles other than vertical if so desired, comprise a series of revoluble devices shielded during a portion of their revolution and rotating around fixed vertical axes, and a plurality of combined lifting and directing rotary devices capable of angular deflection, these lifting devices preferably consisting of helices constructed in the main like the driving propeller but with slightly wider blades and I will therefore refer to although I do not limit myself to the use of precisely the devices here shown.

As here shown there are four of the lifting helices which are indicated at 35 and are arranged two on each side of the machine and disposed toward opposite sides thereof.

, These helices are fixed on the upper ends of them as helices short shafts 36 journaled in bearing brackets 37 on the side walls of the housing and driven from the main shaft 22 in a manner to be presently set forth. Formed in the side walls of the housing just'under the roof 12 are segmental pockets 38 whose inner; vertical Walls 39 are concentric to the helices 35, these pockets being of a vertical dimension sufiicient to accommodate the helices as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, these pockets acting as a shield or guard for the helices and having the adjacent sides of their arciform vertical walls 39 projecting beyond the walls of the housing as at 39.

I preferably provide a pair of the combined lifting and directing helices, indicated at 40, which are located above the roof 12 of the machine in the median line thereof and toward opposite ends thereof, These helices are fixed on the upper ends of angularly adjustable shafts 41 which extend downwardly through longitudinal slots 42 in the roof 12 and have universal jointconnections 43 with short shaft lengths journaled in suitable devices such as the bearing brackets 45.

Angular ad ustment of the shafts' 41 1s effected by means of a pair of levers -16 ful crumed between their ends as at 47 to a suitable fixed part to swing longitudinally of the machine and connected-at their upper ends to collars 48 loosely encircling the shafts 41 a short distance above the universal joints 43. The lower ends of these levers 46 are joined by a horizontal link-bar 49 to which is connected, by a slot and pin connection 50, the upper end of an'operating lever 51 suitably positioned with respect to the operators seat 52 and fulcrumed at its lower end to a bracket 53 on the floor 10.

As will be apparent, movement of the lever 51, will cause the shafts 41 to swing forwardly or rearwardly on the joints 43' and so vary the angular disposition of the I helices 40 so that the machine may be caused to rise at an angle other than the vertical. In connection with the operating lever 51 I preferably provide an indicating device whereby the angle of the helices 40 with respect to the horizontal may be determined at a glance. To this end a short link 55 is connected at one end to the operating levers 51 and at its opposite end to an indicating finger or pointer 56, pivoted upon and cooperating with a semi-circular dial member 57, this dial member bearing suitable marks which show the angle of the helices when the pointer registers therewith.

Each of the two sets of helices 35 and 40 is preferably driven in like manner from the main shaft 22 by means of belts or the like which pass over respective ones of a series 'of large pulleys 61 upon' the shaft 22 and over smaller )ulleys on the shafts 36 and 44, the belts whlch drive the helices 35 being indicated at 62 and the pulleys on the shafts 36 thereof at 63, while the belts which drive the helices 40 are indicated at 64 and the pulleys on the-shafts 44- and'65. These propellers are driven at an increased rate of speed as will be apparent.

To steer the machine horizontally I provide arudder Tl) mounted in suitable brackets on the rear wall 13, a hood 71, which is shaped substantially in correspondence to the upper portion of the front end of the machine, extending rearwardly over the top of this rudder. This rudder 1s operated by means of a steering wheel 72 fixed on the upper end of a shaft 73 journaled in a bracket 74 on the floor 12, a sprocket chain '75 mssin over a s )rocket wheel 7 6 on the lever backward or forward the helices 4(l I are swung backwardly 'or forwardly and given an' inclination to the vertical so as to cause the machine to rise in an inclined path.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- A flying machine comprising a body, a pair of segmental pockets formed in each side wall thereof one in front of the other. rotary helices rotating partially in said pockets. the said pockets having the adjacent sides of their arciformsidewalls extended beyond the sides of the said body.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

MAX T. KION. 

